Identification band

ABSTRACT

An identification band to be secured to the arm or other limb of a wearer and intended to have the name or other appropriate identification of the person to which the band may be applied. The band comprises an elongated tube of nonelastic material which is preferably transparent, to allow an identification card to be inserted in the tube and to be visible through the wall thereof, bearing the name or other identification of the person. One end of the band has a clip applied thereto while the opposite end is adapted to be folded over the first-mentioned end and to be secured together by the clip. The clip is intended to be permanently closed when the band is applied to an individual and to maintain the effective overlapped relation of the ends of the tube.

United States Patent Laugherty et a1.

Apr. 2, 1974 [54] IDENTIFICATION BAND [75] lnventors: Lorene Laugherty; James R.

Laugherty, both of Knoxville, Tenn.

[73] Assignee: Laugherty Incorporated, Knoxville,

Tenn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 31, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 240,139

[52] U.S. Cl. 40/21 C, 63/3 [51] Int. Cl. G09f 3/12 [58] Field of Search 40/21, 21 C, 20, 23; 24/17 PB; 63/3, 11

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,874 6/1905 Baker..... 40/23 R 1,469,100 9/1923 Mitchell 40/23 R 2,893,143 7/1959 Mosher et al.. 40/21 C 2,954,620 10/1960 Schneider 40/21 C 3,197,899 8/1965 Twentier.... 40/21 C 3,698,383 10/1972 Baucom 40/21 C Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb Assistant ExaminerWenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Burns, Doane, Swecker &

Mathis [57] ABSTRACT An identification band to be secured to the arm or other limb of a wearer and intended to have the name or other appropriate identification of the person to which the band may be applied. The band comprises an elongated tube of nonelastic material which is preferably transparent, to allow an identification card to be inserted in the tube and to be visible through the wall thereof, bearing the name or other identification of the person. One end of the band has a clip applied thereto while the opposite end is adapted to be folded over the first-mentioned end and to be secured together by the clip. The clip is intended to be permanently closed when the band is applied to an individual and to maintain the effective overlapped relation of the ends of the tube.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENT) "I! 2 I974 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to improvements in identification bands of the character adapted to be applied to an arm or other limb of a wearer and having means for effecting identification of the person.

Various attempts have been made heretofore to provide identification bands. Some of these have used insertion cards within a tubular structure formed by folding a strip of elastic material upon itself and enclosing a strip of inelastic material therein to prevent stretching of the band. These have been expensive to form or manufacture and are unsatisfactory in service because of the difficulties of insertion of the identification card in the seamed tubular structure.

Metal clips have been used to secure the bands in place, but the use of metal clips for this purpose are objectionable not only because of the danger of corrosion, but also by reason of the danger of static electricity in an appropriate atmosphere which would injure the person or damage the band.

One object of this invention is to overcome these objections and to improve the construction of identification bands for the purpose described.

Another object of the invention is to simplify and improve the manufacture and construction of identification bands to enable these to be made inexpensively and of fewer parts than was required heretofore and yet it may be effective in service for the purpose intended and will maintain a permanent and secure connection with the person.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for the manufacture of identification bands by automatic machinery at high speed and which may be compactly stored complete and ready for use without requiring any metal parts, but which is self-contained and effective for the purpose.

These objects may be accomplished according to one embodiment of the invention by using a tube of nonseamed, nonstretchable, transparent material adapted for receiving therein an identification strip or card that will be fully exposedthrough the wall of the'transparent tube for proper identification of the person to whom the band is applied.

A clip is secured to one end of the tube in such manner that the opposite end of the tube can be folded over the said one end within the clip. The clip is preferably formed of nonmetallic material, such as a suitable plastic that may be folded and yet has sufficient flexibility for closing the clip on the respective ends of the band. The clip preferably has a pair of arms connected together at one end and having interlocking means at the opposite end of the pair of arms for interfitting relation, thereby to permanently maintain the arms in closed relation when they embrace the overlapped ends of the band. Provision is made for a permanent interlocking connection between the clip and both ends of the band so as to prevent accidental separation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the identification band complete and ready for application;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the band after application; I

FIG. 3 is a cross section through the clip on the line 33 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a similar view at right angles thereto on the line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section through the band and identification card on the line 55 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a detail cross section through the securing portion of the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated and described in the form of an identification band of a size and shape adapted to encircle the wrist or other limb of a wearer as an example of the use thereof. Such bands are frequently used in hospitals for the proper identification of the patients and carry other indicia appropriate to such hospital treatment.

The identification band comprises an elongated tube 1 made of a suitable transparent plastic such, for example, as ionomer resin product. An example thereof is manufactured and sold by the duPont Company under the name This name Surlyn. a nonstretchable, nonseamed tube of transparent material, with a surrounding wall that extends uninterruptedly about the circumferences thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The tube should be of a sufficient length to encircle the limb or other appropriate member to which the band is to be applied. It has one secured end portion, indicated at 2, to which a clip is attached, and the opposite end portion, indicated at 3, is open and free. It may be cut off at the latter end so as to provide the appropriate and desired length.

A card, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 at 4, may be inserted in the transparent tube 1 and which will bear the appropriate identification of the person to whom the band is to be applied and any other desired indicia appropriate to the use thereof. This card or strip 4 can be inserted into the tube through the open end 3 and move forward by a pusher portion 5. The pusher portion 5 can be formed of one piece with the card or strip 4 and should have provision for removal of the pusher portion as by a weakened transverse section indicated at 6 in FIG. 1 between this pusher portion 5 and the card or strip 4.

The clip is indicated generally at 7 and is preferably formed of a suitable plastic material sufficiently strong to hold effectively the overlapped end portions of the tube in encircled relation around the limb of the wearer, substantially as indicated. in FIG. 2.

The clip 7 is formed of a pair of arm portions 8 and 9 joined together at one end at 10 with the joined portion somewhat weakened to permit relative folding of the arms 8 and 9 from the open relation illustrated in FIG. 1 to the closed relation shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. At the opposite end of the pair of arms 8 and 9 provision is made for permanently securing these in the closed relation, thereby clamping the overlapped ends of the band on each other. As shown in FIG. 4, the arm 8 has an upturned section 11, with an inwardly extending shoulder 12 formed near the upper edge thereof and extending transversely of this upstanding shoulder substantially throughout the width of the arm 8.

A rib 13 is formed on the lower edge of the free end portion of the arm 9 in such relation that when the arm is forced downward to closed position relative to the arm 8, the rib 13 will be forced around and under the shoulder 12, thereby to form a clamped relation between these parts that will serve effectively to maintain them in closed relation. The upper edge of the upturned section 11 has an edge portion for abutting against a downturned flange 14 on the free end of the arm 9. When these parts are brought into the closed relation illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, they will serve not only to effectively maintain this closed relation, but also to form a smooth edge portion on the clip.

The arm 8 has a rivet 15 therethrough, which rivet 15 extends through the end portion 2 of the tube and with the upper end of the rivet turned over for effectively securing the end portion of the tube to the arm 8 of the clip. This rivet 15 is of tubular form, as illustrated in detail in FIG. 6, with a central opening into which a prong l6 projecting from the adjacent face of the arm 9 is adapted to extend. This prong 16 will be forced through the overlapped end portion 3 of the tube and serve to anchor effectively this end portion in the clip, thereby preventing its accidental withdrawal.

The arm 8 is provided also with a pair of ribs 17 on the upper face thereof which extend lengthwise of the arm and are adapted to be received in complementary grooves 18 clamping the overlapped ends of the tube therebetween. These ribs and grooves also aid in securely anchoring the free end of the tube against separation and removal from the clip, thereby maintaining the permanent and secure attachment of the identification band to the arm of the user.

The clip 7 may be formed of a plastic material, such as Nylon made by the duPont Company, which will have the properties described. As so formed, it cannot be opened without breaking the catch provided at 12-13 and thereby destroying the effectiveness of the clip.

The identification band, according to this invention, may be made of any size desired, for adults, infants, pediatrics, etc., from one initial length as manufactured. The band is simply wrapped about the arm, or other portion of the person to be identified, and drawn sufficiently tight through the clip, which is then closed. Any excess length of the band may be cut off by clipping the end portion 3 beyond the clip 7.

The overlapped end 3 of the band is securely locked in the clip, and the band secured on the person to be identified, upon penetration of the end portion 3 by the prong 16. This holds the end portion of the band when the clip 7 is closed, and the latter is permanently secured at 12-14 so that it cannot be opened without destroying the clip.

The identification band as described is made of few parts and may be manufactured at low cost. it does not require a separate nonstretchable insert strip within a seamed band nor use a metal clip. It is not required that it be made in many different sizes, but one size will fit all users with a simple expedient of cutting off the excess length at the open or free end of the tube.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. An identification band comprising an elongated tube adapted to receive an identification strip therein, a clip at one end portion of the tube, said clip having a pair of arms joined together at one end and having interlocking connecting means at the opposite end of the pair of arms, means for securing said one end portion of the tube to one of the arms, with the free end portion of the tube extending from the clip for encircling a member and to be disposed in overlapping relation with the first mentioned end portion of the tube, and wherein the securing means includes a rivet having an opening in the center thereof, and the other arm having a prong projecting from the face thereof through the overlapped end portions of the tube and into the opening in the rivet for securely anchoring the free end portion of the tube in the clip.

2. An identification band according to claim 1, wherein the tube is of non-stretchable plastic material and having a non-seamed surrounding wall that extends uninterruptedly throughout the circumference thereof.

3. An identification band according to claim 1, wherein the clip arms joined together are both formed of one piece of plastic material.

4. An identification band according to claim 1, including one or more ribs extending transversely of one of the arms for pushing the overlapped end of the tube in clamped relation in the clip.

5. An identification band according to claim 1, wherein one of the clip arms has longitudinally extending grooves on opposite sides of the rivet and the other arm of the clip has complementary registering ribs in positions for pressing the overlapped end of the tube in clamped relation in the clip. 

1. An identification band comprising an elongated tube adapted to receive an identification strip therein, a clip at one end portion of the tube, said clip having a pair of arms joined together at one end and having interlocking connecting means at the opposite end of the pair of arms, means for securing said one end portion of the tube to one of the arms, with the free end portion of the tube extending from the clip for encircling a member and to be disposed in overlapping relation with the first mentioned end portion of the tube, and wherein the securing means includes a rivet having an opening in the center thereof, and the other arm having a prong projecting from the face thereof through the overlapped end portions of the tube and into the opening in the rivet for securely anchoring the free end portion of the tube in the clip.
 2. An identification band accordiNg to claim 1, wherein the tube is of non-stretchable plastic material and having a non-seamed surrounding wall that extends uninterruptedly throughout the circumference thereof.
 3. An identification band according to claim 1, wherein the clip arms joined together are both formed of one piece of plastic material.
 4. An identification band according to claim 1, including one or more ribs extending transversely of one of the arms for pushing the overlapped end of the tube in clamped relation in the clip.
 5. An identification band according to claim 1, wherein one of the clip arms has longitudinally extending grooves on opposite sides of the rivet and the other arm of the clip has complementary registering ribs in positions for pressing the overlapped end of the tube in clamped relation in the clip. 